I admit it–sometimes I think about strange things. Today I am thinking about the special blessing I have had to live at this particular time in history. In Bible classes, we try to think about what it would have been like to live in the time of Abraham, or Moses, or Jesus, or at some …
Monthly Archives: January 2011
Legalism and Mediocrity
[Working on an article–here is a draft of my introduction. What connections have you observed between legalism and mediocrity?] The ultimate result of legalism is mediocrity—a willingness to do the minimum, a lack of motivation to go beyond that which is required. Perhaps you have seen this quote from Alexander Solzhenitsyn: “A society based on …
Choosing the good over the best
Good, better, best. The sequence of positive superlatives is not always easy for children to learn in English class. I suggest it is sometimes equally difficult for adults to learn in daily life. Paul wrote to the Philippians, praying that they might know how to discern what is best (1:11). How often do we sacrifice …
When life is normal
Life is filled with special events and unique experiences. A special Sunday, a special speaker, a touching encounter, an overwhelming sense of commitment. Spiritual high points give us hope and encouragement. Yet the reality of the routines of life is this: the greatest challenge of Christianity is to know God’s presence and power in the …